It’s pretty much inarguable that Download Festival is the biggest event in the alternative music calendar. Now the UK’s second biggest festival – overshadowed only by Glastonbury – Download has now become less of a standard festival and more of a cultural phenomenon. Sure, some may say such a sentiment is hyperbolic, but ask yourself: is any other festival more intertwined with the culture and community it panders to than Download? Thanks to its legacy, history, and reputation, the festival has become synonymous with heavy music as a whole. Which brings us to this 2026, the biggest edition of Download so far.
Of course, the fact that this year’s Download is the biggest so far isn’t just due to the calibre of the headliners. Rather, it’s due to its other attractions. Both Wednesday and Thursday – days previously reserved for drinking at camp – are now filled with live music and other events. This year sees Download playing host to live podcasts, an arcade, a cinema, a barbershop, and collaborations with established authors. Goodness, there’s even the Hellfire Stage, a new stage purely reserved for cooking demos and eating competitions.
But perhaps the most contributing factor to the size of this year’s event is the undercard, with Download Festival 2026 playing host to amazing and groundbreaking talent from all corners of the alternative music landscape. There’s an almost overwhelming abundance of names at this year’s festival, including some artists that are up there with the big guns in terms of brilliance. And with that in mind, here are the 10 names on the undercard that are crucial viewing this weekend.
Native James
Grime and metal have been strange bedfellows for quite some time now. In most cases, such bedmates make for messy, gimmicky or outdated results. Native James gets it right, though. The stage name of Aaron James, Native James’ music carries the aggression that’s synonymous with both genres, but is presented with a sense of chemistry that ensures this fusion of genres is purely organic. It’s live where Native James is best experienced, with James’ live presence being reminiscent of the wild and borderline feral performances of Letlive. Get down to the Avalanche stage at 13:00 on Friday to see the UK’s answer to Jason Aaron Butler.
FFO: Letlive, Bob Vylan, Frozemode
Gatecreeper
Ever wanted to experience the musical equivalent of being crushed under the treads of a tank? Gatecreeper are the band for you. Performing 18:25 on Sunday in the Dogtooth Stage, the Arizona yob specialise in the kind of death metal that’s cold, harsh and void of any of the gimmicks plaguing heavy music at the current time. There’s no shoe-horned genre-wizardry to be had here, just raw and lacerating death metal in the vein of the genre’s founders that’s played with all the intensity of a tank shell to the chest.
FFO: Bolt Thrower, Obituary, Frozen Soul
Die Spitz
One of rock’s best and fastest-rising new acts, Die Spitz land in Donington to no doubt put on a clinic in raucous, barely-restrained showmanship. The four-piece meld sludge, hardcore, metal and good ol’ rock to electrifying effect, with last year’s debut Something to Consume rocketing up year end lists and their live shows already lauded for being off the chain in the best way. Promising to bring the riffs and the ruckus, Die Spitz are only going to get bigger – especially with a recently-announced support slot for Olivia Rodrigo after they tour here with Faetooth – so get in early when they play the Avalanche Stage at 13:40 on Saturday.
FFO: Castle Rat, Scowl, Motorhead
Knives
Yes, you’re going to need to be early on site to catch Knives; they play midday in The Den on Wednesday afternoon. But believe us, the early wake-up will be worth it. Peddling a sound that clashes post-punk swagger with bruising hardcore energy and a whole lot of saxophone, Knives offer a sound that’s fresh, original and utterly relentless. Still, though, it’s the stage where Knives are best experienced, with the band’s live sets carrying the mad intensity that’s reminiscent of The Chariot and early Rolo Tomassi. Leave your bags at the entry of The Den and get the first mosh of the weekend in early.
FFO: DITZ, Ronker, CLT DRP
Vianova
We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: the best way to describe Vianova would be by imagining Jamiroquai if he spent a weekend at the now-defunct Tech-Fest and if he was also somehow very, very German. Yeah, this isn’t for everyone, and the Berlin band’s swaggering take on funk-influenced metalcore will no doubt offend some genre pursuits out there, but for those with an open mind, something larger-than-life awaits. Pop down to the Dogtooth Stage at 15:20 on Friday to catch some obnoxious genre wizardry and even more obnoxious outfits. Dan Hillier
FFO: The Callous Daoboys, Jamiroquai, Floya
Lowen
Lowen are simply one of those bands you either adore or haven’t experienced yet. Fronted by vocalist Nina Saeidi, Lowen take progressive metal in the vein of Baroness and steep it with influence from the music, culture and mythos of ancient Persia. The result is a band whose sound and aesthetic feel divinely inspired and wholly authentic. Their most recent record, Do Not Go To War With The Demons Of Mazandaran is brilliant proof of this, but on stage, the band enliven their vision in a way that’s borderline theatrical. This is a rite in reliving ancient culture through a modern lens, and one you cannot miss when the band play the Dogtooth stage at 13:20 on Saturday.
FFO: Faetooth, Psychonaut, Baroness
Blood Incantation
Not entirely too fussed about the prospect of a 3.5-hour Guns N’ Roses set? Thankfully, the stargate awaits. Headlining the Dogtooth Stage on Saturday night, Blood Incantation’s take on space-marred progressive death metal takes more influence from the beauty and violence of the interstellar heavens above than it does from the band’s peers. The end result is a band whose live performances are just as alluring and crushing as the largest of supermassive black holes, with prog, krautrock and ambient elements orbiting a core gravity well of extreme metal. Plus, with the band playing bang in the middle of Guns N’ Roses marathon set, you’ll have plenty of time to land back on Earth before wandering off to the Main Stage just in time to hear ‘November Rain’.
FFO: Tomb Mold, Pink Floyd, Oranssi Pazuzu
Drain
For a lot of the time, hardcore can be quite a serious affair, full of po-faced types. Drain are a welcome respite from all of that. Offering a take on the genre that’s infused with the sun-blessed warmth of Santa Cruz, Drain take the bludgeoning intensity of bands such as Mindforce, Sunami and Knocked Loose and make it sound utterly joyous. Live is where Drain excels, though, with the perpetually-stocked vocalist Sammy Ciaramitaro having more of the demeanour of a smiling golden retriever than your stereotypical hardcore frontman. Get down to the Avalanche Stage for 16:40 on Friday to watch the most fun band in all of hardcore.
FFO: Guilt Trip, Descendants, Mindforce
Dune Rats
Despite the climate crisis driving up temperatures year after year, anyone who has also done Download year after year will know the weather in mid-June can be a bit cold and very, very wet. Still, even if Download 2026 does become another drownload, Aussie punks Dune Rats can be relied upon to bring the heat. Playing 10pm Thursday in The Den, Dune Rats specialise in the kind of pissed-up, blissed-out, shout-along punk that’s perfect for summer nights spent getting right on it. Expect high-energy songs about getting hammered with your mates and maybe a shoey or two. –
FFO: DZ Deathrays, Blink 182, The Chats
Lake Malice
At the time of writing this, Brightonian duo Lake Malice have literally just announced their debut album I Wanna Know If It’s Real for a September release and confirmed a new single drops on the 10th, just ahead of their Download performance. A firebrand presence in the alternative space, theyv’e been melding hyperpop, metalcore and more together to scintillating effect and have only gotten more creative. Their live show is nothing to be sniffed at either, with buckets of energy, huge presences and occasionally even backup dancers. Don’t miss this set on the Dogtooth Stage at 17:00 on Friday; they’re truly one of the UK’s most exciting acts. – Will Marshall
FFO Charli xcx, Enter Shikari, Northlane
Bonus Pick: Lou’s Brews Cooking Show
Lou brewed the hot sauce for the last two Noizzefests, and believe me, the man can cook. Pop a pinger to Pendulum and then go see Lou cook up something naughty before a live audience. Just don’t shout ‘Pod10’ at him.
FFO: The thought of getting smacked in the head by a thrown bottle of hot sauce.